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Protecting your portfolio from inflation
Chris Farrell May 18, 2012
What's the best way to hedge against the risk of higher inflation rates? The timing is murky, but it's a prudent bet to anticipate a resurgence in inflation.
Cash flow liberated by refinancing
Chris Farrell May 18, 2012
My wife and I recently refinanced our home. We paid off the home equity line and the existing mortgage, and now our monthly payments are $500 less than they were previously. What should we do with these savings? Thank you. Jeff, Amherst, MA
Why early retirement may not be good for your health
Stephen Dubner May 17, 2012
Freakonomics Radio explores the hidden side of early retirement.
Getting your own slice of the Facebook IPO
Bob Moon May 24, 2012
There's a lot of hype over the upcoming Facebook IPO. We have a reality check and advice for those of you waiting impatiently for its launch.
Investing lessons from the Great Recession
Chris Farrell May 11, 2012
It's striking how well the old rules for managing money hold up. We forget that these insights were forged during scary times, such as the Great Depression of the 1930s and the Great Inflation of the 1970s.
Savings strategies after locking in a low rate
Chris Farrell May 11, 2012
My husband and I just refinanced our house at a great rate (15-year fixed mortgage at 2.875 percent). Our house payment is low and we can afford to pay more each month. Would the best use of our money be to pay down the principal on this low-interest loan or put extra away for retirement or for our children's college fund? We have two young children and are in our late 20s/early 30s. Thanks for your help! Katie, Helena, MT
Are more investors staying on the sidelines?
Stacey Vanek Smith May 9, 2012
Charles Schwab CEO Walt Bettinger discusses how the investors mindset has fundamentally shifted since the financial crisis and whether investors should be worried about Europe.
A startling health-care bill
Chris Farrell May 9, 2012
The mutual fund giant Fidelity calculates that a 65-year-old couple retiring in 2012 will need around $240,000 to cover medical expenses through their retirement. Ouch!
A college graduate and savings
Chris Farrell May 9, 2012
I am a 25-year-old college graduate with approximately $27,000 of student debt. I have been unable to find a job since graduating and am making $1,000 a month, give or take. I now have $1,500 in my checking and $1,000 in savings. This is the most money I have had at one time and am unsure how best to utilize it. My savings account is for emergencies. My budget allows for $150 a month of disposable income. Should I contribute what remains of my disposable income to the loans, save it or try to invest it? I am currently paying $100 a month to the loans to maintain activity. Thank you for your time. Nathaniel, Raynham, MA
